Blueberry cleaner



Oct. 22, 1935. W E, URSCHEL BLUEBERRY CLEANER 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. l5, 1932 Oct 22 1935. w. E. URSCHEL BLUEBERRY CLEANER Filed Jan. 13, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY OC- 22, 1935. w, E. URscHEL l BLUEBERRY CLEANER Filed Jan. 13, 1932 3 Shee'tS-Sheet 5 NVENTOR.

A TT ORNEY Patented oci. 22,1935

UNITED STATES rATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

The present invention relates to a berry cleaning and washing 'machine and has particularly to do with a device for removal of softberries, leaves, stems, maggots and debris from blueberries and similar berries and Washing the cleaned berries before they are discharged from the machine.

The apparatus consists essentially of a power driven drum with a slotted surface to Which a plurality of knives or Scrapers are applied. The drum is adapted to rotate slowly in a tank of water in a manner allowing blueberries and like berries to be fed into said drum to be discharged after being cleansed without interfering with the continuous operation of the machine. 'Ihe device at the same time provides a means for washing the cleaned berries while rotating in said drum.

'I'here have been other cleansing and Washing machines using a drum oi wire screen with a square mesh. It can be readily seen that the size or" openings in the screen cannot be greater than the diameter of the berries. Otherwise, the screen would not retain the berries in the revolving drum. Such openings of a limited size are not large enough to permit leaves, twigs, or debris to pass through the shell of the cylinder into the water tank.

Perforated sheet metal cylinders with small circular openings have been tried in an effort to provide a. drum of greater mechanical strength. Notwithstanding that this object was attained, one of the primary conditions for successful operation was defeated. Owing to the smooth metal surface of the drum, the berries would be alternately carried forward and then together in mass would slide back. Such a device does not have the rolling action which is obtained by the use of a slotted perforate metal screen.

In other machines of a like nature, the soft berries, leaves, stems, maggots, and debris are separated from the cleaned berries by flotation and sedimentation. The present invention provides an additional means to aid this separation.

It is believed that the present apparatus fully compensates for factors hereinabove mentioned, or any other factor that may arise in the cleaning and washing of blueberries and the like.

Included in the objects of the invention, among others, are the following:

An improved method of separating soft berries, leaves, stems, maggots, and debris, from blueberries and' similar berries.

An improved means for washing cleaned bere ries, the operation occurring in a machine employing conventional initial cleansing means.

An improved drum for separating soft berries, leaves, stems, maggots, and debris from clean and sound blueberries and similar berries.

A new means of severing stems and removing soft berries, leaves, twigs, and debris from a separating drum by means of knives or Scrapers.

Many additional objects will be apparent upon reference to the accompanying specication and 10 drawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of a machine embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a feed end elevation of such machine with feed hopper and tank removed.

` Figure 3 is the discharge end elevation of such machine with the discharge spout and tank removed.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the embodiment oi' the machine illustrated in Figure l, the rotating 20 drum being removed.

Figure 5 is apartial side elevation of the machine showing the drum roller supports and drum cleaning knives or Scrapers.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the machine 25l taken on the line 6-6 in Figure 1 in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 7 is a partial plan View of drum screen illustrating the method by which leaves, twigs, and soft berries escape from the drum while 30 the clean sound berries are retained.

Figure 8 is a partial section of a drum and cleaning knife or scraper taken on the line 88 of Figure 1 in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 9 is a sectional view of the drum and hopper spout taken on line 9-9 of Figure 10 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 10 is a partial section view of drum and 4.0 hopper spout taken on the line I0-l0 of Figure 3 looking in the direction indicated by arrows.

Figure 1l is a sectional view of the drum end taken on line H-Il of Figure l2.

Figure l2 is a partial elevation of a drum end. 45

Figure 13 is a sectional view of one of the intermediate drum rings taken on the line |3|3 in Figure 14.

Figure 14 is a partial elevation of one of the intermediate drum rings. Figure 15 is a partial plan View showing the manner in which drum bar is secured to the drum ends.

Figure 16 is a partial plan view illustrating the uv Yso connection of the drum bar to the intermediate rings.

Figure 17 is a sectional view of a drum screen splice taken on line I'I-I'I in Figure 10.

Figure 18 is a section of a drum screen splice Y ,supported by six or more vertical members 2, and

secured together by a plurality of transverse members such as the members '31 In the pres-` ent instance, four longitudinally disposed members I are used, secured by two transverse members 3 and supported'by the six vertical members 2.( To secure rigidity, Yplates 4 and 5 have been used at the connections.

A screen drum 'Iis Vsupported by means of rollers 49 secured to shafts 8, Figure4, in a con- 'Vventional manner which, in turn, are journaled in supporting members 9 secured to the upper longitudinal frame members I. Shafts `8 are also journaled in the gear boxes I2 and I3 bolted to the transverse main frame member 3. Bevel gears Ill secured in a conventional manner to shafts 8 are driven by means of bevel gears II secured to a transverse shaft I4 journaled in the gear boxes I2 and I3 and the bearing I5 bolted to the Yvertical main frame member 2. A belt pulley i secured to the transverse shaft I 4 provides means for applying the power needed to rotate the screen drum by means of the arrangement hereinabove described.

'Ihe screen drum I consists essentially of two end rings l'i and a plurality of intermediate rings I9 held in xed relation by means of a, plurality of transverse bars I9 (see Figures 10, l2, 14, 15, and 16,) secured to said end rings I'I and intermediate rings IB by means of cap screws 20. The drum frame thus formed is covered `with slotted perforated sheet metal screen sections 2| secured to the drum ring spacing bars I9 in amanner hereinafter described.

. Referring to Figures 6, 17, 18, yand 19, it can readily be seen that the screen sections 2I overlap each other in such a manner as to produce a surface free from obstructions Vparticularly to a knife or scraper rubbing against their surfaces when rotating in clockwise direction in rel-ation to the receiving end of the screen Vdrum I. The screens 2i are provided with ya ,series of conical Y depressions (see Figures 17 and 1'9) along their longitudinal edges of such shape as to allow the Ysaid screens to be superimposed upon eachother and receive the flat head bolt`221and rest in a similar depression-in the drum ring .spacing bar-V I9 providing asimple means vfor attaching screens ZI to the frame of drum ,'I and providing a'joint -that will not obstruct a knife `.or scraper applied to its surface when `drum screen 1 rotates i-n clockwise direction with respect to thereceiv-V ing end of said drum screen "I. This method of attaching screens 2| to ring spacing bars I9 provides a simple method of renewing said screen Ysections 2I ,1withc.ut disturbing the frame of screen Y drum 'I. Y e

Such drum construction eliminates spokes and axle within the drum as are formed in similar machines. 'Spokes and axles interfere with the steady flow of berries through the machine and also tend to bruise some of the sound berries. Elimination of the spokes and axle also facilitates the cleaning of the drum 'I.

The slots in screen shell 2I (see Figures 1 and 5 '7) form a series of helical paths around the surface of the cylinder 1, each helix forming an equal angle with the elements of said cylinder The angle formed with the elements of the cylinder 'I is small, creating a long pitch for each helix l0 thus formed.

Referring to Figure 7 it will be seen that the slots are long and narrow, the Width being determined by the Vdiameter of the berries to be cleaned. Sound berries cannot pass through the 15 screen but a soft berry flattened by the tumbling brought about by the cylinder rotation may es- `cape through the screen. Twigs, leaves, straw,

and debris may also pass through the said screen 2! in the same manner. Y Y 20 The angular position of the slots in regard to the elements ofthe cylinder 'I prevents the berries from being carried up and then sliding back in a mass without tumbling as has been the case with other perforated sheet metal screens. The 25 inclined slots in the perforated shell of cylinder also cause a shearing action between said cylinder and the knives or Scrapers 28 severing any stems attached to the berries being cleaned and washed. A Y 3.0

Secured in a conventional manner to the end ring I? and inner surfaces of the screen sections 2! at the discharge end of screen drum 'I are screen pockets 23 (Figures 9 and 10) to elevate the cleaned and Washed berries into the'discharge 85 spout 24. The screen pockets 23 are constructed of the same screen used in the drum screen sections 2I. As the cleaned berries are elevated in pockets 23, they are given a iinal washing fby water directed upon them from the hereinafter 4.0V

frame members I and is provided with a simple 50 adjustable overflow (not shown in accompanying drawings) to regulate the level of water in Y said tank. Conventional stufiing boxes 39 have been provided in one end of tank 6 to allow Vroller shaft 8 to pass through. A spray pipe 25 55'V (see Figures 9 and 10) supported by means oi' any inverted LJ shaped support 2.6 bolted to transverse member 3 and transverse hoppersupporting member 21 (see Figures V1 and 10) furnishes the water required in tank 6 to maintain 60 a proper level. By means of such spray washes, the berries both in drum` I and elevating pockets 23 are cleaned while the system isiurnishing water for tank f.

It can readily be understood thatall of the soft G5 berries, leaves, twigs, and debris will not separate from the clean sound berries by means of iiota- VVtion and sedimentation alone. By the use of a plurality of knives or Scrapers 28 (shown in Figures 5, 6, and 8) pressing against the outward 70' to spring members 29 which in turn are vbolted 75E y to the knife spring support 30. The knife spring supporting member 30 is in turn secured to the drum roller support 9. The knife or scraper 28 has a scraping action against leaves, soft berries and materials of weak resistance and a cutting action against stems, twigs, and debris of stronger resistance. As the sound berries tumble in the screen drum 1, the stems protruding through screen 2i are caught by the knife 'or scraper 28 and separated from the berries. In the same manner soft berries, leaves, twigs, or any debris protruding through the screen 2| are caught and forced to leave the interior of drinn 1. Although only one row of knives or Scrapers 28 is shown in the drawings, the present invention is not limited to any number of knives or scrapers.

The berries to be cleaned are fed into the rotating drum screen 'l by means of a conventional hopper 3| (Figure l) supported by the vertical members 32, bolted to transverse member 33 which in turn is secured to the vertical end frame members 2.

A conventional discharge spout 24 (see Figures 1, 9, and l0) for the purpose of discharging the cleaned and washed berries from this machine is supported by means of the heretofore described inverted. U shaped spray pipe supporting member 2Q and transverse member 21.

The device, in operation, comprises a confined body of cleansing fluid, a perforate cylinder having a segment of its periorate wall rolling through the body of cleansing uid, and a quantity of berries loosely disposed upon the interior portion of the rolling wall, the berries or most of the berries being immersed in that portion of the cleansing liquid within the cylinder. As the cylinder rotates, generally at a slow speed, the berries are carried upon the cylinder wall in the direction of the rotation of the cylinder. As such travel is against gravity, their movement with the cylinder is arrested after a time, and the berries roll back down the cylinder wall to again be carried up such wall. At all times, with reasonably few exceptions, the berries are piled higher at one side of the cylinder than at the other, that side being in the direction of the rotation of the cylinder.

The cleansing liquid is similarly moved in the direction of the rotation of the cylinder. This is true both within and outside of the cylinder. This is due to a number of causes including friction between the cylinder and the cleansing liquid which friction is augmented by the perforate wall of the cylinder. It is due in part to the movement of the berries in the cylinder. It results also from a current which is set up in the cleansing 1iiquid which follows the direction of the cylinder over an upper stratum in the body of the cleansing liquid and which flows in an opposite direction in a stratum beneath the direct influence of the cylinder. Similar currents are set up wherever there is a constant movement in one direction of a member tending tol pull or push a portion of water.

These several causes produce a pronounced flow of cleansing liquid into the cylinder at one side of the tank, across the interior of the cylinder, and out at the other side of the tank, the discharge of the cleansing liquid being augmented by the falling away from the exterior of v the cylinder of a portion of cleansing liquid that had adhered to the outside thereof until gravity has been effective to break the adhesion of such liquid to the cylinder.

With the water that ows out of the cylinder, such water flowing out of cylinder in a most noticeable manner in a stratum adjacent to the blade and just below the blade, the stems of the berries are projected through the apertures in the cylinder to be cut off by the knife. The stems on berries are projections from substantially spherical berry bodies and for this reason or for other reasons align themselves with the direction of the iiovv of the cleansing liquid as previously indicated. As the Yliquid flows out of the apertures in the wall of the cylinder, the stems are pulled therethrough. The pull of the water is suicient to pull berries that are of a diameter slightly greater than the width of the apertures through such apertures and all of the berries that are of an under size flow out of the cylinder in this manner. Such do not flow back at the opposite side of the body of cleansing liquid for the flow of the current is divided over a larger area and has much less force.

That this is the operation of the device may be demonstrated by using less liquid than is shown in the drawings, as for example, enough only to raise the level of the liquid in the tank to one inch below the knife. The device will continue to function satisfactorily for the water level. in the direction of the rotation of the cylinder and at the knife side thereof will rise to the level of the knife and thereabove. The level of the berries within the cylinder may rise to a slightly higher level.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent in these United States is:

1. l'n a device for cleansing berries, a tank containing a cleaning liquid, a rotatable cylinder having a foraminous wall for containing berries and disposing such berries below the surface o such liquid, a discharge spout extending into said cylinder, means for lifting the berries to said discharge spout comprising apocket having walls or" apertured material disposed on the interior of the wall of said cylinder opposite to said spout and open in the direction of the axis of rotation of said cylinder, and means for directing a spray of cleaning liquid over said pocket when it is above the surface of the cleaning liquid in said tank.

2. A berry cleaning device comprising a cylinder having a foraminous wall disposed for rotation and partly lled with material to be cleaned, a tank containing a cleaning liquid through which said cylinder wall travels and is partly immersed to dispose such material to be cleaned below the surface of said liquid, a discharge spout at one end of said cylinder and extending thereinto, foraminous pockets at said end of said cylinder and adapted to convey such material from said cylinder to said spout, and a spray pipe extending through said cylinder and discharging liquid against such material as it is deposited in said spout.

3. A berry cleaning device comprising a rotatable cylinder having an unbroken interior of uniform circular cross section, there being in said cylinder a series of slots helically arranged with respect to the rotating axis thereof, said cylinder being adapted to receive a quantity of berries, a shearing instrumentality adjacent to the exterior of the wall of said cylinder, a tank containing a cleaning liquid and adapted to receive said cylinder to submerge berries contained therein in said liquid, a discharge spout projecting into an end of said cylinder, pockets on the interior of the wall of said cylinder at said end for carrying cleansed berries above the surface of such liquid and-discharging them into said spout, and means for directing a spray of cleaning Yliquid against such cleansed berries while being discharged from said pockets into said spout.

Vfi. vA berry cleaning device comprising a rotatable cylinder having sideV walls provided with elongated slots arranged helically of the axis of rotation of said cylinder, a tank containing a cleaning liquid, said cylinder being partly immersed in such liquid, a spout 'for discharging the contents of said 'cylinder thereinto, pockets at one end of said cylinder 'for lifting to said discharge spout non-floating material accumulating on the wall of said cylinder, and means for discharging a spray on -said material as it is lifted to said spout.

5. A ldevice for cleaning berries and'comprising a cylinder having a wall provided with a plurality of elongated openings extending helioally and in the same direction, a tank containing a cleansing liquid, said cylinder being mounted for rotation about its principal axis and being partially immersed in the liquid in said tank, a discharge spout extending into one end of said cylinder, pockets of foraminous material upon the walls of said cylinder to lift such berries from the lower portion of 'said cylinder to discharge them into said spout, and a spray pipe extending through said cylinder to discharge its contents upon the berries as they are discharged into said spout. K

6. A berry cleaning devicercomprising a rotating cylinder having side walls with a plurality of elongated openings therein, the major transverse dimension of said openings being less than the minimum diameter of berries to be cleaned Within the 'cylinder and theV length of each opening being several times its width, the longitudinal axes of such openings describing spirals progressing in the same direction about the axis* of the cylinder, a knife having a cutting edge engaging the exterior of said cylinder and held against rotation therewith, and the edge of said knife extending axially of the cylinder at the side toward which the ever-changing Llower section thereof is moved and below the surface of the liquid Within the cylinder at such side.

7. A device comprising a cylinder adapted to be partly filled with berries and disposed with its principal axis iin substantiallya horizontal iplane, the side wallsiof said cylinder having slots therein extending in the same directon'spirally of such axis, meansfor rotating Vsaid cylinder about such axis, a tank containing `a cleansing liquid, said AL:5 cylinder being partly immersed in the liquid so that the level of such liquid within the partly immersed cylinderlis above thatV of the berries but below the axis of Vthe cylinder, a stationary k`l-r2nife having a cutting edge in engagement with the I0 exterior of the cylinder, the edge of theknife extending axially of the cylinder at the side toward which theeVer-ch'anging lower section of the cylinder is moved during rotation thereof and below the surface of the liquid within the cylinder at 'SV such side. f

8. A berry cleaning device comprising a cylinder having a side wall provided with elongated slots and rotatable von a horizontal axis, a tank for l containing a cleansing liquid, means Vformounting said cylinder so that it is partlyV immersed in such cleaning fluid, means for rotating said cylinder, a knife having a cutting edge coextensive with said Y cylinder, and means for holding the cutting edge of said knife against said cylinder and in a plane slightly below the normal level of cleansing liquid in said tank;

9. A berry cleaning device comprising a rotatable cylinder having a side wall provided with elongated openings, the openings having longitudinal axes describing spirals progressing about Y the wall of said cylinder in the same direction, a tank for containing a cleaning liquid, means for mounting said cylinder in said tank, means for rotating said cylinder, a knife having a cutting edge cocxtensive with the exterior of said cylinder, and means for holding said knife against rotation with said cylinder and with the cutting edge thereof extending longitudinally of said cylinder, said knife being mounted in a horizontal D plane in juxtaposition to the normal level of the liquid contents of said tank and so positioned on the side of the cylinder leaving the liquid that the knife will be immersed in the liquid during the operation of the device, and said cylinderV having 5 its axis of rotation above the level of such liquid contents.

WILLIAM E. URSCHEL. 

